England icon Paul Gascoigne has revealed he broke down in tears while watching the Three Lions at the 2026 World Cup, as the tournament stirred painful memories of his own semi-final run in 1990.
Gascoigne's Emotional Reaction
Speaking to Clutch 9 Football, powered by Betway, Gascoigne said: 'I was just sitting on the bed watching it, and I wasn't really thinking about anything. Then, once the first game [against Croatia] went on, I got so emotional and had a few tears because all of a sudden it brought back all the memories from 1990, and everything I did every single day went through my head, and I couldn't sleep that night.'
Gascoigne, who was a key player in the England team that reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, admitted he initially planned to avoid watching much of the tournament. 'I didn't think I was going to watch much of it because I miss football so much, but some of the games have been unbelievable. Anyone can win it,' he added.
England's 2026 Run
Thomas Tuchel's England side secured their semi-final spot on Saturday by beating Norway 2-1 in extra time. They are now set to face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, just one win away from a first World Cup final since 1966. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, also needed extra time to beat Switzerland 3-1, with Breel Embolo receiving a red card.
Gascoigne never faced Argentina during his international career, but England hold an unbeaten record in the last three meetings between the two sides, though the most recent encounter was over 20 years ago. Messi is currently joint-top scorer at the 2026 World Cup with eight goals.
Comparing Eras
Gascoigne's 1990 World Cup dream ended in a penalty shootout loss to West Germany in the semi-finals. England have reached the last four of a World Cup only once since then, in 2018, but have not made the final. Tuchel's squad now has the chance to surpass Gascoigne's generation by reaching the final. Victory over Argentina would set up a potential clash against either France or Spain.
